October 11, 2010

Paladino and gays

Carl Paladino, the Republican nominee for governor of New York and opponent of same-sex marriage, has some odd ideas about gays. Yesterday, he gave a speech saying, "I just think my children and your children would be much better off getting married and raising a family, and I don't want them brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option."

This talk about invalid options is a little surprising coming from someone who disseminates videos featuring displays of bestiality. But never mind. A lot of gays agree that people are better off getting married, which is why they want the right to do just that.

But I assume Paladino meant that people are better off getting married to opposite-sex partners. When it comes to heterosexuals, I can't argue. But it's hard to see how anyone benefits if a gay man or woman marries a heterosexual of the opposite sex.

That is a recipe for disaster, from which neither parents nor children gain. I think ﻿anyone who ever got unwittingly involved in such a marriage -- such as ﻿﻿Dina Matos McGreevey, who was first lady of New Jersey when she found out her husband was gay -- would agree.

And does Paladino really think exposure to gays could "brainwash" heterosexual youngsters into changing their orientation? If "brainwashing" on sexual preference worked, there would be very few gays, since most of them were raised in homes and in a culture in which heterosexuality is taken as the norm. But that brainwashing doesn't seem to work.

Paladino said today that his Democratic opponent, Andrew Cuomo, shouldn't have taken his daughters to a Gay Pride parade because of the raunchy displays at such events. I've never been to one, so I'm willing to concede he might be right. But Paladino wasn't there. So how does he know the Cuomo girls were exposed to anything inappropriate?

The main result of treating homosexuality as normal is to teach young people tolerance and respect for others -- and to let gay youngsters know they are not mentally ill or criminal because of desires that are natural to them. Those kids need to know that they can lead "valid" and "successful" lives regardless of their sexual orientation -- and regardless of people like Carl Paladino.

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"...brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option."

Isn't it Paladino and his party who are doing their best to make sure gay unions are not considered equally valid and successful? Isn't it their brainwashing attempts on the so-called evils of homosexuality that they're trying to shove down the rest of our throats?

A shout out to Carl Paladino. If men in speedos, gyrating their hips makes you uneasy, please look away or better yet don't attend pride parades. Even if it were possible to "convert" someone to any sexuality, I can assure Carl that no one would want to convert him to anything but a life of celibacy and being totally alone.

It's people like Paladino and those on Foxnews that are driving young gay people to suicide. I have gay friends and I can't imagine how hard it must be to live your life in the closet and hide such a huge part of what you are.

The 800 pound gorilla in the room that no one seems to be mentioning is that Paladino made these remarks in a speech to a group of Orthodox Jews. Said Orthodox Jews APPLAUDED him. So Paladino isn't just some isolated nutjob on this issue - he has very powerful support.

I've never understood how these "gay" men get married and have kids. Really? You're really going to marry a person of a gender you are completely unattracted to, and actually have enough sex with them to produce children? Really?

I think they qualify as bisexual, which strangely enough, seems to be a term people are trying to erase.

"Yet he also criticized his opponent, Democratic state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, for bringing his daughters to a gay pride parade.

"Young children should not be exposed to that at a young age, they don't understand it," Paladino said. "Exposing them to homosexuality, especially at a gay pride parade... They wear these little speedos and they grind against each other, and it's just a terrible thing. Why would you bring your children to that."

Gee....I wonder if Mr. Paladino has forwarded the email of a woman having carnal knowlege of a horse to his 10-year-old illegitimate daughter as an example of a wonderful thing.

Imwilker says: "The Angry Chicagoan: "Shouldn't people be free to decide their definition of marriage?" Yes, they absolutely should. But what they shouldn't be allowed to do is force their definition on others who feel differently."

Those that supported military segregation said similar stuff about blacks being given the same accommodations as their white counterparts in the military. They wanted separate but not equal accommodations for blacks serving this country -- This is typical bigot nonsense in both cases.

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I’m a columnist and editorial writer with strong opinions about a wide range of issues, and this blog lets me address many of them. What readers can find here is an independent, libertarian perspective beholden to no party, candidate or dogma. Whatever your political outlook, I think you’ll find things to agree with—and things to disagree with. About Steve Chapman